Mutharika must take responsibility of economic turmoil – University of Malawi don

University of Malawi’s Chancellor College political scientist Michael Jana has said President Peter Muharika should stop making excuses for ongoing economic problems in the country but look for solutions within rather than blaming the past.

Time to take responsibility: President Mutharika

Jana said: “President Harry Truman of the United States of America used to put a sign on his desk that read: ‘the buck stops here’. I think as long as Mutharika accepted to be the captain of this ship called Malawi, the buck stops on his desk—he must take responsibility.”

The university political scientist made the comment in an interview published by the daily Nation newspaper.

“ If this country sinks or successfully sails through this crisis, Mutharika takes the responsibility as the captain. When he took over government in May 2014, for instance, crop estimates already showed a looming huge deficit. Now this is 2016 and we are still talking about trying to find a solution. I think the President and his government must take responsibility for failing to find a solution to date,” he said.

Jana said Malawi is not the only country in Africa facing economic challenges, saying most countries including Nigeria and South Africa, are struggling economically.

“Statistics indicate that low commodity prices and economic slowdown in Africa’s trade partners such as China are some of the causes. Malawi’s problems are of course compounded by the dry spell and floods experienced in the past year or two, and of course poor policies and corruption that have left Malawians poorer since the introduction of democratic dispensation—if I am to talk of this period alone,” he said.

Basing on Mutharika’s one and half years in office, Jana said: “I think he came with a promise of potentially effective reforms. Programmes like the public service reforms, the Green Belt Initiative, the community colleges and so on—I think such programmes hold the promise of solving some of our problems if implemented well. They, however, need time and resources to be implemented and show results.

“Unfortunately, upon assuming the presidency, Mutharika was faced with a crisis that I think put him off guard and threatened the realisation of some of his planned programmes. Here I am talking about the sudden resource gap created by the withdrawal of donor support to government budget, and the food shortage.”

Jana said Mutharika has not shown “convincing capacity” in a crisis situation to design a “bailout package.”

He said: “Yes, it is not an easy task; it needs a lot of brains to come together and a lot of support; but that is one instance where leadership matters most.”

The opposition has been showering a lot of slurs on the President with some describing him as “clueless” and “inept.”

Jana has since urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP0 government to “desist from inciting unnecessary tension” especially in the midst of the current socio-economic problems that demand the nation to focus attention on finding short-term and long-term solutions.

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The problem is,Malawians are used to elect MWANA WA KWATHU look now,all 15million people are gnashing their teeth,predicaments never choose whether you are from the North,South or Central,we are in the same boat.It is time to learn a lesson.Let us elect leaders on merits not on tribal basis.

As far as God is concernd about every laedership,every nation will suffer the consquencies of the leader like in our case.For every laeder who ever lead this nation there is things which followed this nation.The problem just started be4 the result of ellections,so you think anything good can come from that leadership.I dont think so.

APM must set a precedent beginning cleaning mess within his camp and not interfering 577billion audit and good governance. Leadership anchored in integrity attracts wealth that’s the character needed to solve this current crisis.

YOU GUYS WHY CAN’T WE ACCEPT THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS FAILED TO LEAD US. EVEN A BLIND MAN IN THE STREET CAN SEE AND FEEL THIS. WHY ARE SOME IDIOTS KEEPING ON BACKING APM??????? IS IT BECAUSE HE IS THEIR HOME BOY????? PLIZ MALAWIANS LET US BE CIVILIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BY THE WAY MBC (MUTHARIKA BROADCASTING CORPORATION) IS BUSY ORGANISING USELESS INTERVIEWS AND PRESS BRIEFINGS JUST TO DEFEND THE DYING GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THIS GUY CALLED PHILIP BUSINESS, HE HAS NOTHING TANGIBLE TO OFFER TO THE PEOPLE OF MALAWI!!!

The problem is not Malawians as other people are saying. Malawians did their part electing a leader and his Vp, they are paying tax every time they suppose to. The issue is; are leaders have clue on how to use the little resources for the interest of the nation and
those resources are they used at a right times. You can not build a stadium yet theres hunger crisis. Ministry of Agriculture must farms like those of ILOVO but just for maize. Nthaka inaguga ma dela ambiri. Use that subsidy money it will help.

why can’t Malawians take responsibility for economic owes in Malawi? was it Peter Mutharika who stole money from the government? is it Peter Mutharika who works the all the jobs all the fields in Malawi? Why cant Malawians see that all a Leader does is Lead! Lead! for heavens sake ! the production! the execution! is for the citizenry to effect! Stop stealing! stop telling lies! stop relying on begging! stop transferring balme to other people all the time! look at yourself! You Michael Jana are supporsed to be educated man in this country what have you done to reduce… Read more »